Progress in global education is improving access for millions of children, but new data shows deepening inequality continues to affect learning outcomes across sub-Saharan Africa.
According to the Global Monitoring Education Report, participation in early childhood education has increased significantly over the past 25 years, particularly in regions that started with the lowest enrolment levels, including sub-Saharan Africa.
Despite this progress, access remains limited. Fewer than one in four children of pre-primary school age in sub-Saharan Africa are currently enrolled in early learning programmes, highlighting ongoing affordability and infrastructure challenges.
Globally, pre-primary enrolment increased from 41% in 2003 to 54% in 2024, although growth has slowed significantly since 2015. The report notes that participation gaps between higher-income and lower-income households remain largely unchanged, showing that economic inequality continues to influence access to education.
The number of children out of school globally is also rising. An estimated 273 million children and youth were out of school in 2024, with 108 million in sub-Saharan Africa. The region now represents almost half of the global out-of-school population across primary and secondary education levels.
Population growth is adding pressure to education systems. The school-age population in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to grow by 37% between 2025 and 2050, increasing demand for classrooms, teachers and learning resources.
While enrolment numbers have grown significantly since 2000, infrastructure development has not kept pace. In many countries, a high percentage of classrooms remain temporary structures, affecting learning environments and education quality.
Policies supporting free and compulsory education have contributed to improved access. Evidence shows that combining free education with compulsory attendance increases years of schooling and improves transition rates between education levels.
Equity remains a central challenge. Globally, 76% of countries redistribute resources to support disadvantaged schools, compared to 63% in sub-Saharan Africa. Limited funding and unequal resource distribution continue to impact participation and learning outcomes.
School feeding programmes and social protection initiatives are among the interventions showing positive results. Research indicates that school meal programmes improve attendance and learning outcomes, while also delivering long-term economic and health benefits.
The report highlights the importance of coordinated policy frameworks, sustainable funding models and inclusive education strategies to ensure that education progress benefits all learners equally.
For Social TV, the findings reinforce the importance of continued investment in education as a foundation for social development, economic participation and long-term societal resilience.
